MAPS

What’s Up with That? What’s Down? Apple Map Flyover, 3D and Look Around

Huh? What’s the difference?

Screenshot of Apple Maps by Author

Apple Maps as of IOS 15 and Monterey now promised many new features. Quoting from their recent Maps page:

Update to iOS 15 or iPadOS 15 to get the latest Maps features, including the interactive globe, 3D experiences for cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and London, walking directions in augmented reality, nearby transit, and more.

Further up on that page Apple touted the advantages of Fly Over, Look Around, and Interactive Globe. Don’t those and 3D all sound like the same thing?

Well, yes, no, and maybe. Yes, they all present 3D or 3Dish views. No, they differ in how and what you see, and maybe they are all using the same data, just seen through a different lens.

Only some cities get the full Monty

Some cities are blessed with all these views. San Francisco is one. I’ll let you guess whether this screenshot is from 3D or Look Around:

Apple Maps screenshot by Author